Successful library run

When you can't even pause to take off your jacket after returning from the library- that's a sign of a successful outing.  Apparently he didn't want to take the time to actually sit in the chair, either.

Christmas competitions

Christmas just isn't christmas at my parents' house if there isn't some sort of competition.  Sometimes its sled races, or snow ball fights.  Often it's a pingpong tournament.  This year the weather was not suited for sledding, but with it being 45 and sunny, we were able to have a great game of kickball.  Or it was great, until my husband pegged my mom with the kickball.  In the face. And they were on the same team. Although, for the record, she did kind of deserve it.  She was supposed to be fielding, but was too busy taking pictures to put her hands out to catch the ball.  She took it well, laughed it off, and we went back to the game. 

Once we got kickball out of our system we retired inside for the pingpong tournament.  I started out the first round by taking on my 81 year old great uncle.  Now, he's tough.  Growing up, his sons used to school us, and then he would come downstairs and make mincemeat out of his sons.  I haven't played him in years, but I knew it wouldn't be easy.  Although he is 81.  Well, I had a great victory in game one.  Then he was warmed up.  I did put up a bit of a fight, but he finished me off rather quickly.  I think he could have been the overall tournament winner.  Only he had to go up to take a nap.  Do I take that as a compliment?  Or does that make my loss even more embarassing? 

Post pingpong we started a new tradition- the dance competition.  Turns out no one could compete after watching Pete and Jay dance to a Katy Perry song.  We were too weak with laughter.  We will let them take the dance title for this year.  I will admit that I am practicing in the privacy of my own home so that I am ready for next year's dance-off.  Wonder how good of a dancer Uncle Bill is?

Bucket brigade

So the boys went back to school two days ago.  And today both of them are home sick.  It started off with only one home, but Eli had the unfortunate luck to be upstairs right before school when his brother was throwing up. It's never easy being around a person who is dealing with intestinal issues, but Eli is another case altogether.  He started humming loudly to try to drown out the noise.  I helped Theo get cleaned up and then pushed Eli out the door.  He went, with backwards glances that were meant to show me just how damaged he was from having to witness Theo not at his prime.  But to school he went.  A short while later I got a call from the nurse.  Eli was lying down in her office, complaining of a stomach ache.  Eli has never been to the nurse's office before, so she was taking him seriously.  I helped Theo through one more round of issues and then knew I had a clean 20 minutes to fetch Eli before Theo might start feeling cruddy again.  So I rushed down to get him.  There he was, looking pale, and somehow self-righteous at the same time.  I brought him home and he set himself up in a chair in front of the TV with a bucket.  Before long he was asking me for lunch.  Which he ate heartily, with a bucket by his feet.  Right now he's playing a pretty active game on the wii, bucket nearby.  He feels fine.  But he is now linked to that bucket for at least 24 hours.  Last time he threw up I think he carried that bucket around the house for 48 hours.  This time he hasn't actually been ill, so we might be able to pry it out of his hands within a day or so.  Sheesh.  What a kid.